5 Charged Following String Of Bomb Threats Against Plum School District

PLUM (KDKA) — Five people have been charged following a string of bomb threats made against the Plum Borough School District.

In a letter sent to parents, the District indicates that five of six people accused of orchestrating the threats have been charged. Investigators say one of the children accused is too young to understand what they are accused of.

There have been six bomb threats in less than a month in the Plum Borough School District. The first threat was made March 9. Five more threats would be seen written on bathroom walls at the high school, the middle school and the elementary school.

Charges include threats to use weapons of mass destruction, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. The cases will go to juvenile court.

“The District is simultaneously pursuing appropriate disciplinary actions against the students, which includes expulsion hearings,” the note stated, in part. “All of the threats over the past four months originated from within our schools and community. All the individuals involved in these incidents are Plum children.”

“What’s it going to take for them to take safety seriously in these schools? We’ve had enough drills, six bomb threats, gun threats, junior high, elementary and high school. When’s enough enough?” said parent Chad Salerno.

In the letter sent announcing the charges, the District acknowledged that students may feel a heightened sense of fear, and that it is taking measures to understand the problems, mitigate threats and support students.

“I have sisters and brothers in the high school and they said last week there were two in a row and they are scary,” Tina Rende said.

“I have four kids,” parent Jamie Bartos said. “Two in school second and first grade. We actually did keep our kids home one day.”